Fancy Mac and Cheese!! Give your regular ole macaroni and cheese a much needed makeover! Mix in some fresh spinach, peas and tuna for some added protein! Your entire family will be asking for seconds!
We have less than 3 weeks until summer vacation and I can hardly believe that the school year is coming to an end. Here in Wisconsin, it doesn’t get dark until about 9pm or later now so it’s hard to get the kids to bed at a decent hour.
Amidst the regular family stuff lately, my oldest just celebrated a birthday (she’s NINE!), my youngest just had dental surgery (and yes, was put under general anesthesia; which that form you have to fill out and sign as a parent is the scariest thing ever!) and we’re just getting ready for summer, making plans, signing up for camps etc.
I’ve signed up for a culinary nutrition certification course 
Faster than the school year, the summers always go by extremely fast so I hope everyone is able to slow down a bit and enjoy every second. Get outside, soak in the sun (just a little! and wear lots of sunscreen) and spend time with loved ones. During the summer, and even now, I’m making more quick meals for dinner.
Nothing wrong with starting with a box.
Annie’s is my kids’ favorites and this was actually our first time trying 
And this time, I added tuna for some protein!
I don’t know the last time I just made mac and cheese and didn’t add anything in. I always add in fresh shredded cheese, butter and milk. I love blending different cheeses together! So, next time, add in some provolone, mozzarella or parmesan! You will love it!
Mac and Cheese with Spinach and Peas
Ingredients
- Annie's Homegrown Creamy Deluxe Macaroni Dinner
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or mozzarella + provolone blend
- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
- 2 heaping cups fresh spinach
- 2 cans albacore tuna drained and heated in a pan
- 1/2 cup red grape tomatoes halved lengthwise
- fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Boil shell pasta according to package instructions. Drain and place back into your pot. Heating the pot over medium heat, stir in the cheese packet, milk, butter, shredded cheese and frozen peas. Mix until everything is well blended.
- Add in the fresh spinach, tuna and tomatoes. Mix together well until the spinach has wilted and everything is nicely coated in the cheese mixture. Remove from the heat, garnish with some fresh basil and serve!
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Annie’s Homegrown is a brand that we love and buy frequently at our house! And not just the mac and cheese!
That course sounds so cool – I’ve been thinking about doing one too! Can’t wait to learn more about nutrition. Your recipe sounds delicious, mac and cheese made better! Love it!
The kid surgery thing is terrifying. I’ll never forget how awful I felt holding my son while they anesthetized him for his tonsillectomy. Those memories stay with you. But we’re doing it because we have to, and that’s one of the tough parts of parenting. Sucks, but gotta do it!
And I swear by blackout shades in all the kids’ bedrooms. We lie to them about it being dark outside. 😉
I love this kind of mac and cheese! Tuna makes everything better, as do all the veggies. Awesome!
Happy birthday to your daughter! The surgery sounds very scary though 🙁
As if Mac and cheese wasn’t good enough, you went and made it fancy too. I could totally eat a big bowl of this right now.
Sounds like you will have such a great time in NYC, Alice! Even though you’ve been busy, hopefully your summer will be filled with fun and adventure. This mac ‘n cheese sounds SO good! What a perfect way to jazz up the regular kind. I think I could devour this all in one sitting!
Oh I absolutely love mac and cheese from a box and Annie’s is my fav! Definitely nothing wrong with that. Love your fancy version! Sounds like you have a busy few weeks ahead of you. Can’t wait to hear more about what you learn in the nutrition class!
Love what you did with this Alice, amazing!
Love Annie’s Mac & Cheese! This looks so good! Great idea to add veggies and tuna! Have fun in NYC Alice!
Simple is the BEST in the summer! I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures in NYC — you will fly right through your courses I know!
Good luck in NYC! I hope you have a great time! This fancy mac and cheese is everything! Love the veggies mixed in. I could totally eat this as a meal!
I can hardly believe summer is right around the corner either, Alice! Where has the year gone? That culinary nutrition certification class sounds wonderful, I am sure you are going to learn a plethora of useful knowledge! Anyways, fancy mac and cheese? Count me in! Loving the fresh veggies and tuna in here! Now I can feel good about eating one of my childhood favs! Cheers, dear!
I’m with you, this year is going by way too fast! Happy Happy Birthday to your daughter, Alice! So excited for your course and NYC trip – you are going to rock it! Love all the greens you loaded into this mac & cheese! So delicious!
Mac and cheese is one of life’s greatest pleasures, in my opinion! Love how you jazzed this up 🙂
I love this mac & cheese Alice! So much goodness going on here 🙂
Looks like an excellent week night meal. Yummy! ?
I so need to dress up my mac and cheese, this looks like heaven!
Oh wow, you have to let me know how you like the nutrition course! I have been thinking about that a lot lately, I’d love to learn more about nutrition. And this mac and cheese looks like absolute perfection. Love that you added so many fresh ingredients to it!
Alice I love love this idea of making a boxed meal so much healthier & tastier!! Will definitely give this a try!!
I’m so excited to see how you will bring the things you learn in your nutrition class to your recipes! And what a big month your family has had. I bet you guys are counting down to summer vacation like nobody’s business 😉
I love everything about this recipe. Adult sensibilities but childlike satisfaction. A+ ! 🙂